137 research outputs found

    Montelukast, A Selective Cysteinyl Leukotriene Receptor 1 Antagonist, Reduces Cerulein-Induced Pancreatic Injury in Rats

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    Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of the cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast against pancreatic injury during acute pancreatitis. Methods: Acute pancreatitis was induced in rats by 20-mu g/kg (intraperitoneal) cerulein given at 1-hour intervals within 4 hours. Montelukast was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 10 mg/kg 15 minutes before the first cerulein injection. Six hours after the cerulein or saline injections, the animals were killed by decapitation. Blood samples were collected to analyze amylase, lipase, and the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 1 beta. Pancreas tissues were taken for the determination of tissue glutathione and malondialdehyde levels and Na+, K+ Yadenosine triphosphatase and myeloperoxidase activities. The extent of tissue injury was analyzed microscopically. Results: Acute pancreatitis caused significant decreases in tissue glutathione level and Na+, K+ Yadenosine triphosphatase activity, which were accompanied with significant increases in the pancreatic malondialdehyde level, myeloperoxidase activity, and plasma cytokine level. On the other hand, montelukast treatment reversed all these biochemical indices and histopathological alterations that were induced by cerulein. Conclusions: These results suggest that cysteinyl leukotrienes may be involved in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis and that the cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist, montelukast, might be of therapeutic value for treatment of acute pancreatitis

    Using a Federated Network of Real-World Data to Optimize Clinical Trials Operations

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    Clinical trials, whether industry, cooperative group sponsored, or investigator initiated, have an unacceptable rate of failure as a result of the inability to recruit sufficient numbers of patients. Even those trials that are completed often require time-consuming protocol amendments to achieve accrual goals. These inefficiencies in clinical trial research result in increasing costs and prolong the time needed to bring improved treatments to cancer clinical practice. TriNetX has developed a clinical research collaboration platform—deployed by a federated network of health care organizations (HCOs), pharmaceutical firms (Pharma), and contract research organizations (CROs)—to enable data-driven clinical research study design to reduce accrual failure and protocol amendment. Currently, the network extends to 55 HCOs and covers 84 million patients, mostly within the United States, but with a growing international presence. (Many of the HCOs in United States are Clinical and Translational Science Awardees and/or National Cancer Institute–designated cancer centers.) The TriNetX business model includes Pharma and the CROs as sponsors whose subscriptions financially support the network, including the software and hardware costs of the HCOs. Furthermore, as each HCO network member has their data harmonized with the TriNetX model upon joining, data sharing among them does not require any technical processes to establish connectivity. To date, on the basis of the data on the network, HCOs have been presented approximately 757 studies by Pharma and CROs, and four data-sharing subnetworks have been formed among member HCOs. </jats:p

    Protective Effects of Lycopene on Cerulein-Induced Experimental Acute Pancreatitis in Rats

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    Background. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the protective effect of the strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, lycopene, on oxidative stress in a rat model of cerulein-induced acute edematous pancreatitis. Methods. Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with lycopene (50 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline 15 min before cerulein was given 20 mu g/kg (i.p.) at 1-h intervals within 4 h. Twelve hours after cerulein or saline injections, the animals were killed by decapitation. Blood samples were collected to analyze amylase, lipase, and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta). Pancreatic tissues were taken for the determination of tissue glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, Na+/K+-ATPase, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities. Tissue samples were also examined histologically. Results. Acute pancreatitis caused significant decrease in tissue GSH levels and Na+/K+-ATPase activity, while pancreatic MDA levels and MPO activity were increased. Furthermore, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and amylase lipase levels were also significantly increased. On the other hand, lycopene pretreatment reserved all these biochemical indices as well as histopathologic alterations that were induced by cerulein. Conclusions. According to the results, lycopene protects the pancreatic tissues from oxidative damage induced by cerulein, and this effect possibly involves the inhibition of neutrophil infiltration and lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that high dietary intake of tomatoes may have protective effects against acute pancreatitis. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

    Alpha-lipoic acid protects against hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

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    Background and Aim: To evaluate the protective effect of alpha-lipoic acid in reducing oxidative damage after severe hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury. Methods: Wistar albino rats were subjected to 45 min of hepatic ischemia, followed by 60 min reperfusion period. Lipoic acid (100 mg/kg i.p.) was administered 15 min prior to ischemia and immediately before reperfusion period. At the end of the reperfusion period aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, and cytokine, TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta levels were determined in serum samples. Malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) levels and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were determined in the liver tissue samples while formation of reactive oxygen species was monitored by using chemiluminescence ( CL) technique with luminol and lucigenin probes. Tissues were also analyzed histologically. Results: Serum ALT, AST, and LDH activities and TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta levels were elevated in the I/R group, while this increase was significantly lower in the group of animals treated concomitantly with lipoic acid. Hepatic GSH levels, significantly depressed by I/R, were elevated back to control levels in lipoic acid-treated I/R group. Furthermore, increases in tissue luminol and lucigen-in CL, MDA levels and MPO activity due to I/R injury were reduced back to control levels with lipoic acid treatment. Conclusion: Since lipoic acid administration alleviated the I/R-induced liver injury and improved the hepatic structure and function, it seems likely that lipoic acid with its antioxidant and oxidant-scavenging properties may be of potential therapeutic value in protecting the liver against oxidative injury due to ischemia-reperfusion. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

    Grape seed extract reduces oxidative stress and fibrosis in experimental biliary obstruction

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    Background and aim: The aim of this study was to assess the protective effect of grape seed extract (GSE) against oxidative liver injury and fibrosis induced by biliary obstruction in rats. Methods: Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups; control (C), GSE-treated, bile duct ligated (BDL), and BDL and GSE-treated (BDL + GSE) groups. GSE was administered at a dose of 50 mg/kg a day orally for 28 days. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were determined to assess liver function and tissue damage, respectively. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and antioxidant capacity (AOC) were assayed in plasma samples. Liver tissues were taken for determination of the hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and collagen content. Production of reactive oxidants was monitored by chemiluminescence (CL) assay. Results: Serum AST, ALT, LDH and plasma TNF-alpha were elevated in the BDL group as compared to the control group and were significantly decreased with GSE treatment. Plasma AOC and hepatic GSH level, depressed by BDL, was elevated back to the control level in the GSE-treated BDL group. Increases in tissue MDA level, MPO activity and collagen content due to BDL were also attenuated by GSE treatment. Furthermore, luminol and lucigenin CL values in the BDL group increased dramatically compared to the control and were reduced by GSE treatment. Discussion: These results suggest that GSE protects the liver from oxidative damage following bile duct ligation in rats. This effect possibly involves the inhibition of neutrophil infiltration and lipid peroxidation; thus, restoration of oxidant and antioxidant status in the tissue

    Protective Effects of Proanthocyanidin on Cerulein-induced Acute Pancreatic Inflammation in Rats

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    BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the possible protective effect of proanthocyanidin against cerulein-induced acute pancreatic inflammation (AP) and oxidative injury. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with proanthocyanidine (100 mg/kg, orally) or saline 15 min before cerulein was given by 20 µg/kg subcutaneously at 1-h intervals within 4 hours. Six hours after cerulein or saline injections, the animals were killed by decapitation. Blood samples were collected to analyze amylase, lipase, and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1b). Pancreas tissues were taken for the determination of tissue glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, Na+, K+-ATPase and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities. Formation of reactive oxygen species in pancreatic tissue samples was monitored by using chemiluminescence (CL) technique with luminol and lucigenin probes, while the extent of tissue injury was analyzed microscopically. RESULTS: Acute pancreatitis caused a significant decrease in tissue GSH level and Na+, K+-ATPase activity, which was accompanied with significant increases in the pancreatic MDA, luminol and lucigenin chemiluminescences (CL) levels and MPO activity. Similarly TNF-α and IL-1β levels were elevated in the pancreatic group as compared to control group. On the other hand, proanthocyanidin treatment reversed all these biochemical indices, as well as histopathological alterations that were induced by cerulein. CONCLUSIONS: Proanthocyanidine can ameliorate pancreatic injury induced by cerulein in rats, this result suggests that proanthocyanidin may have utility in treating acute pancreatititis

    Grape seed extract treatment reduces hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

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    This study was designed to determine the possible protective effect of grape seed extract (GSE), a widely used antioxidant dietary supplement, on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Wistar albino rats were subjected to 45 min of hepatic ischemia, followed by a 60 min reperfusion period. GSE was administered in a dose of 50 mg/kg/day orally for 15 days before (I/R) injury and repeated before the reperfusion period. Liver samples were taken for histological examination or determination of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were determined to assess liver functions. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta) were also assayed in serum samples for the evaluation of generalized tissue damage. Ischemia/reperfusion caused a significant decrease in hepatic GSH, and significant increases in MDA level, and MPO activity. Serum AST and ALT levels, as well as LDH activity and plasma TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta levels were also elevated in the I/R group. Treatment with GSE reversed all these biochemical parameters as well as histological alterations induced by I/R. In conclusion, GSE reduced I/R-induced organ injury through its ability to balance the oxidant-antioxidant status, to inhibit neutrophil infiltration and to regulate the release of inflammatory mediators. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd
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